PM's remarks on police action inhuman: BJP, CPI-M

The Bharatiya Janata Party and Communist party of India-Marxist on Monday criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his statement justifying the police crackdown on Ramdev's supporters and alleged his comments were "inhuman" and did not do "much credit" to his government.

"The prime minister's statement vindicates the BJP's stand that it seems the unleashing of midnight terror on innocents was orchestrated by the PM and his office in consent with 10 Janpath," BJP spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy said reacting to Singh's remarks on the police action at the venue of Ramdev's fast at the Ramlila Ground.

"The Prime Minister has fallen in grace for all times to come," he said. In his first comments on the police action at Ramdev's protest congregation, Singh termed it as "unfortunate" and justified it saying there was "no alternative".

Rudy alleged the prime minister has lost all credibility and his statement is "not only inhuman but also amply narrates the insensitivity of the PM". It reflects the "complete callousness" on the part of the government, he said.

Instead of expressing regret for what happened, he is trying to "condone" the act, he said. "Here is a prime minister who himself opines that terror should be unleashed on common man. His statement is bizarre and unexpected," he said.

CPI-M Politburo member Brinda Karat said the party would have appreciated had the prime minister expressed regret at the action and that he has not done so "does not do much credit to his government".

"I feel sorry that he has not expressed regret...we still do not know what changed within 48 hours that from rolling out red carpet for Ramdev they went to (unleash) this terrible police attack," she said.